Taking the pain out of finding a specialty doctor

Most individuals find the process of applying for disability tiresome. Forms with special letters and numbers coupled with extensive questions and the request for additional records often leaves a disability applicant exhausted, both mentally and physically. After a claimant files his/her initial application either online, on the phone, or at a local security office, most claimants feel the only thing remaining following their efforts is to wait patiently for a ruling, hopefully a favorable one. However, to increase the claimant’s probability of receiving social security disability benefits, the pursuit must go on. Depending upon an individual’s medical condition, most illnesses, especially those complex in nature, require supportive medical documentation from a specialist. For example, due to the severity and complex nature of disorders such as Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and RSD, several doctors (often ranging from a family physician to pain management doctors/specialists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and sleep disorder physicians) are involved with the care of the individual.

A specialist is a physician that has received additional training in a particular field. Most often, he/she is able to perform tests that family physicians are unable to either because they do not have access to specific and required testing equipment or they have not been trained in a specialized area of medicine. This article is written with the disability applicant in mind, especially those claimants that are already mentally and/or physical exhausted by the disability process. This article provides readers with a basic roadmap, a place to start by incorporating unique tools surprisingly common to network marketing. By utilizing these tips, claimants will be able to find highly trained and reputable physicians specializing in particular disorders. A reminder to readers – it is essential after finding a physician that claimants take the next step by following through with an appointment and beginning treatment as soon as possible. However, always check with your attorney and/or representative before making your final decision and beginning any course of treatment. Your attorney should always be skilled in the area of disability and will know the best strategy needed for helping you receive disability benefits.

Below are the top three ways recommended for finding a doctor, one that is both knowledgeable and has a reputation of integrity:

Referrals – Referrers consist mainly of family, friends and co-workers. More often than not, when a referrer makes a referral, he/she is basing their opinion on knowledge a disability applicant may or may not have privilege to. The referrer may already have a relationship with a particular doctor. In this case, the referrer has past knowledge of a particular doctor’s “bed-side” manners so to speak. In addition, those referrers who have used a doctor in the past can share information related to clinic directions, hours of operations, etc. Often word of mouth referrals are better than any other kind of resource a claimant has available.

Church, Synagogue, etc. – Churches, synagogues, and other places of worship serve as a valuable resource for finding doctors in specific fields of medicine. Because of the diversity that members of a church organization bring, it is often the quickest and safest place to network with others when trying to locate a particular person of interest. Usually the church leader is able to make a quick recommendation, as he/she has knowledge of the members’ professions.

Support Groups – There are multiple means in which to find support groups for any medical condition. If you are uncertain if a specific support group exists in your local area, the internet is a beginning point, especially for those disability claimants who are house bound. Simply go to a search engine such as Google and type in, for instance, key words such as “fibromyalgia support groups in Atlanta, GA.” In addition, most major illnesses have national foundations, so if the above search does not yield any positive results, try key words such as “national arthritis foundation.” In this particular example, The Arthritis Foundation found at arthritis.org sponsors many fibromyalgia support groups in the US. In addition, the National Fibromyalgia Association website can be found at fmaware.org. A similar approach will help disability applicants find specific doctors trained in their illness. While using the same manner described above, use key words such as “fibromyalgia physicians in Atlanta, GA.” Some illnesses have websites devoted strictly to helping individuals find doctors in a chosen field. For example, the website http://www.co-cure.org/Good-Doc.htm provides a list of doctors who deal primarily with fibromyalgia patients.

Support groups not only provide emotional support to individuals stricken with the disease, but some groups provide support or additional resources for family members. All illnesses, despite their degree of severity, affect immediate family members whether being an emotional and/or physical toll or an increased financial obligation. In addition to emotional support, these type groups are a great source for networking with other individuals similarly situated. Support groups often meet monthly or bi-weekly while others have weekly scheduled meetings. Because of their likeness in an illness, support group participants are a great resource tool for finding a specialist. Local newspapers often have a section that lists all local support groups available in a common area.

Although there are potentially many more networking avenues available for finding a specialist, the above is a great starting point. While utilizing any of the above, claimants should be able to locate a physician that will be able to work with them throughout the disability process. These highly trained doctors are familiar with both the documentation and tests needed to aid the disability claimant with their application. In closing, it is recommended that a claimant take an active “PART” in any visit that he/she has with a physician, whether it be a family physician or a specialist. Being active prior to and during an appointment yields a productive session. The word “PART” is broken down as follows:

P – Prepare: make a precise list of questions or concerns before your appointment. This is not strictly limited to the first appointment only. Prepare for each appointment. As both your treatment and illness progresses, new questions will arise. By having a list of questions ready, you will be able to make the most of the time afforded to you by your doctor.

A – Be Active: begin the visit with a brief description of what your main concerns are. Be honest and tell the doctor exactly how you feel. Also, be sure to be specific on where you experience pain, if any and how this pain affects your daily life.

R – Repeat: State back to the doctor what the doctor has said to you. Doctor’s visits are often short and follow-up calls often result in returned calls by a nurse only. Make sure you understand what your doctor is saying.

T – Take Charge: As the visit ends, ask yourself if you have everything, you need to take charge of your illness. Remember, you are in charge of your life. You run your life, not your life runs you.

Again, as mentioned earlier, before making a final decision on a specialist, check with your disability attorney and/or representative. Specialty doctors are expensive and routinely order a series of extensive testing. Be sure that any tests ordered are necessary to further your disability cause.